Tour of Britain 2018: Stage 3

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Stage 2: Meyer wins from the breakaway

Alaphilippe forces the pace on stage 2

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of stage 3 of the 2018 Tour of Britain. We're in for another hilly day and more GC action after yesterday's shakeup. Bardiani-CSF's Alessandro Tonelli is in the race lead, and the Italian will have a job on his hands if he's to hold off the likes of Julian Alaphilippe (Quick Step Floors) today.

Today's stage, which starts and finishes in Bristol, will begin in around 20 minutes, with the official start coming quarter of an hour later at 11:45 UK time.

We're in for a fast and furious day today, with the stage measuring in at just 127.2km.

Three categorised climbs are packed in along the way though, including the famous Cheddar Gorge after 38.5km.

The real tests will come in the closing 20km though, with an uncategorised climb followed by the category one Providence Lane and then another uncategorised hill in the closing kilometres.

Cameron Meyer (Mitchelton-Scott) won yesterday's stage, as the breakaway eluded a powerful chase group including the likes of Julian Alaphilippe and Wout Poels, among others.

The Australian outsprinted Tonelli to claim the win, his first on the road in 2018. There were prizes for two of the other men in the break too, with Scott Davies (Dimension Data) taking the KOM jersey and Matthew Teggart (Team Wiggins) donning the sprints jersey.

Here's what the general classification looks like heading into the stage. There are a lot of big hitters up there – names that we can expect to see on the offensive today too.

1. Alessandro Tonelli (Bardiani-CSF) 8:15:30

2. Cameron Meyer (Mitchelton-Scott) +00:00

3. Patrick Bevin (BMC) +00:08

4. Wout Poels (Team Sky) +00:12

5. Jasha Sütterlin (Movistar)

6. Chris Hamilton (Team Sunweb)

7. Julian Alaphilippe (Quick Step Floors)

8. Bob Jungels (Quick Step Floors)

9. Primož Roglič (LottoNL-Jumbo)

10. Hugh Carthy (Education First-Drapac) +00:19

And as the riders set off from Bristol, here's a look at the other classifications...

Meyer is leading the race for the points jersey, though he, André Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) and Wout Poels (Team Sky) are all on 15 points.

Davies has a commanding lead in the KOM classification, with his 26 points besting Alaphilippe and teammate Nic Dlamini's 15.

Teggart's 9 points yesterday mean he leads Matthew Bostock (Great Britain) by 2 points in the sprint competition.

Hugh Carthy (EF-Drapac) is currently the best British rider, while Quick Step Floors unsurprisingly lead the team competition.

The riders will be climbing en route to the start proper, which should come in around 15 minutes. There are no hills early on today, though, but the break will no doubt look to establish themselves before the first of three intermediate sprints at Yatton after 17.9km.

The riders pass over the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge. In a few hours they'll be back here, just 2km from the day's finish.

125km remaining from 125km

And we're off! The flag has dropped and stage 3 is officially underway.

Stefan Küng (BMC) is the first man on the attack, racing away immediately. 

Of course, the British domestic squads are looking to get in on the action too, with several teams represented towards the front as around 12 riders get a small gap.

That move didn't stick – it was too big and therefore too dangerous to let go.

Fernando Gaviria (Quick Step Floors) tries a dig off the front. He was on the attack late in yesterday's stage too.

122km remaining from 125km

Jon Mould (JLT-Condor) is trying a move now. Nobody has joined him but Gaviria is leading the chase from the peloton.

119km remaining from 125km

Alex Dowsett (Katusha-Alpecin) is the next rider to take off. Still no moves have been successful.

Direct Énergie are very active on the front early on, shutting down several moves so far and sending Sylvain Chavanel on the attack at one point.

Now it's Max Schachmann's (Quick Step Floors) turn to have a go. The peloton is lined out behind him, and nobody is able to get a gap.

Mitchelton-Scott have several riders at the rear of the peloton, including yesterday's stage winner Cameron Meyer. Curious.

One Pro Cycling haven't made a break so far during the race. They have riders up front and are keen to make the day's move.

The peloton is still all together as we get within 1km of the first intermediate sprint of the day.

110km remaining from 125km

Emils Liepins (One Pro Cycling) has got a small gap on the peloton, but Katusha-Alpecin are out in force on the front.

It looked like Patrick Bevin (BMC) beat Mads Würtz Schmidt (Katusha-Alpecin) to that intermediate sprint. If so, it means a three-second bonus for the Irishman.

Schachmann tries again, getting a small gap on the peloton

104km remaining from 125km

There's not long now until the first climb of the day, the fourth category climb to Shipham. Maybe we'll see the break of the day launched there.

We're 3km from the climb now. Here's confirmation of the intermediate sprint result:

1. Mads Würtz Schmidt (Katusha-Alpecin)

2. Patrick Bevin (BMC)

3. Dimitri Strakhov (Katusha-Alpecin)

We're approaching the 100km to go mark and still no break has been established. Liepins and Mould are trying again.

100km remaining from 125km

We're on the climb now. Schachmann, Maarten Wynants (LottoNL-Jumbo) and James Shaw (Lotto-Soudal) have broken away from the peloton.

More riders are trying to make it across to the trio, including Taylor Phinney (EF-Drapac).

99km remaining from 125km

James Shaw takes the points at the summit of the climb.

That break group was brought back at the top of the climb and now Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) is having a go.

Shaw beat Schachmann and Wynants to the KOM. Just the 3, 2 and points for the trio.

Van Garderen has Tony Martin (Katusha-Alpecin) for company. The duo are descending a few seconds ahead of the peloton.

93km remaining from 125km

We're on the second climb of the day now, the second category Cheddar Gorge. The climb is toughest early on, with a maximum gradient of 16% in places before easing off to 4-6% after 2km.

Schachmann, Strakhov and a Team Sunweb are off the front of the peloton now.

Riders are being distanced from the back of the peloton as the gradient bites.

92km remaining from 125km

Several other riders have made it across to the lead group now.

Turns out that it doesn't really matter who made that group because the peloton has just brought them back.

90km remaining from 125km

Still no breakaway, despite Schachmann trying yet again to get away.

Chavanel attacks! The Frenchman gets a decent gap straight away.

Bardiani-CSF have tried to control things, but race leader Tonelli is their only man left at the head of the peloton now.

And Chavanel takes the maximum 8 points over the top of Cheddar Gorge before dropping back to the peloton.

87km remaining from 125km

Gaviria has leapt out of the peloton, and they seem quite content to let the Colombian sprinter ride off. He won't be pleased to see nobody else following, though.

And predictably Gaviria is brought back as a Direct Énergie rider pushes on.

42km remaining from 125km

We have a breakaway! Four men have finally broken free from the peloton. They are Pascal Eenkhoorn (LottoNL-Jumbo), André Greipel (Lotto-Soudal), Romain Cardis (Direct-Énergie) and Matthew Holmes (Madison-Geneis).

Maximiliano Richeze (Quick Step Floors) and Jay Thomason (Dimension Data) are chasing.

80km remaining from 125km

The chase duo have been brought back, while the four-man break have a gap of just 15 seconds.

It looks like the break is going to brought back. TEn seconds is the gap now. Iljo Keisse (Quick Step Floors) and Jasha Sütterlin (Movistar) clip away from the peloton.

The Movistar rider was actually Rubén Fernández. In any case, he and Keisse have made it across to the Greipel group.

76km remaining from 125km

Here's a shot of the breakaway.

72km remaining from 125km

Strakhov has gone on the attack once again, trying to bridge up to the break.

Strakhov makes it across. There are now four riders up front who lie just 49 seconds off the race lead – Strakhov, Eenkhoorn, Fernández and Holmes.

Now Keisse is trying to split the break up with an attack. Their advantage is still small, just 40 seconds at the moment.

We're just a couple of kilometres from the day's second intermediate sprint at Midsomer Norton.

Bardiani-CSF have a rider on the front of the peloton, while Sky are a big presence there too. They're working to keep the gap to the break small. It's under 30 seconds now.

Eenkhoorn take the sprint alone. Strakhov and Fernández took second and third.

The peloton is just ten seconds behind now, and will probably bring the group back soon.

The terrain is up and down from here on in, though just one classified climb remains – Providence Lane with 9km to go.

60km remaining from 125km

And the break is caught. Alex Dowsett (Katusha-Alpecin) immediately goes on the attack.

Now Dowsett's teammate Tony Martin has gone clear solo. He's over 12 minutes down so maybe he'll be allowed to go.

Martin is powering along, arms draped over the drops. The gap is edging out, but the peloton still have him in their sights as more riders try to get off the front.

51km remaining from 125km

Three more riders have joined Martin up front. They are Jon Mould (JLT-Condor), Angelo Tulik (Direct Énergie) and Ben Swift (Great Britain).

The four-man break now has a minute over the peloton.

Quick Step Floors are working on the front of the peloton.

Ben Swift is the best-placed man on GC in the break. He lies 3:32 behind race leader Tonelli. The other three are all over 12 minutes down.

38km remaining from 125km

We're inside the final 40km now and the break has a 40-second advantage. They won't make it to the finish.

33km remaining from 125km

The gap to the break is now nearing a minute as they approach the final intermediate sprint of the day at Bishop Sutton.

31km remaining from 125km

Mould leads the break over the sprint, which was uncontested. Tulik and Martin took the remaining points and seconds.

28km remaining from 125km

The gap is coming down now, as we reach the sharp end of the stage.

There is one unclassified climb left on the profile, starting with 20km to go. Then it's just the category one climb of Providence Lane and the climb to the finish on Clifton Down in Bristol.

The lead quartet are still plugging along, dutifully ignoring the warnings painted onto the road.

Maximilian Schachmann, who has been one of the most active riders of the day, is riding at the front of the peloton for his Quick Step Floors leaders Bob Jungels and Julian Alaphilippe.

19km remaining from 125km

We're into the final 20km now. The gap is coming down by the kilometre.

15km remaining from 125km

Quick Step Floors are still working at the front of the peloton, with BMC there as well.

13km remaining from 125km

Here's the official profile of today's final categorised climb, which will start in just under 5km. It's a tough one.

And here's the profile on the climb and finale from Lasterketa Burua. Note the steep unclassified climb just a few kilometres from the finish.

10km remaining from 125km

The break reaches the final 10km and Providence Hill is almost upon them. The peloton is bearing down fast, though, laying just 15 seconds down the road.

9km remaining from 125km

Great Britain move to the front of the peloton, despite having Swift up front. The break is almost caught, in any case.

Game over for the break with 9km to go. We're on the climb now.

EF-Drapac, Great Britain and BMC are all represented at the front of the peloton.

Fernando Gaviria is once again up front, trying a dig on the climb.

8km remaining from 125km

The Colombian has a small gap on the peloton, maybe a few seconds.

The peloton is shattering on the steep slopes. BMC pull Gaviria back.

7km remaining from 125km

Tom Pidcock (Team Wiggins) goes on the attack solo.

7km remaining from 125km

Bob Jungels (Quick Step Floors) makes his move behind Pidcock, who takes the points at the summit.

What remains of the peloton is lined out on the descent, with Pidcock at the head. 

5km remaining from 125km

Jungels leads them down now, what remains of the peloton is all together.

4km remaining from 125km

Kiryienka takes it up on the front now. Caleb Ewan (Mitchelton-Scott) is still up there.

3km remaining from 125km

Race leader Tonelli is back in the peloton.

3km remaining from 125km

Neilson Powless (LottoNL-Jumbo) is among those at the front of the peloton as they hit the short, steep unclassified climb in Bristol.

Van Garderen and Bevin are there for BMC too.

2km remaining from 125km

Hugh Carthy (EF-Drapac) goes on the offensive, opening up a small gap.

And we're back where we started – on Clifton Suspension Bridge. Van Garderen chases down Carthy.

2km remaining from 125km

BMC are still at the front of the peloton as we head into the final 2km.

1km remaining from 125km

Final kilometre! James Shaw leads the peloton now.

Jungels and Alaphilippe take over.

Final 500 metres and Quick Step are still on the front.

Mads Würtz Schmidt opens the sprint early!

But it's Alaphilippe who takes advantage of Jungels' leadout to nip through and take it!

Julian Alaphilippe (Quick Step Floors) wins stage 3 of the Tour of Britain!

Meanwhile, race leader Tonelli was dropped and will lose the green jersey today. He was almost a minute down on Alaphilippe.

Alaphilippe jumped onto the wheel of Würtz Schmidt after the Katusha man took it up early.

Patrick Bevin (BMC) took second, while Emils Liepins (One Pro Cycling) seemed to finish third.

Stage 3 result:

1. Julian Alaphilippe (Quick Step Floors) 2:47:41

2. Patrick Bevin (BMC) +00:00

3. Emils Liepins (One Pro Cycling)

4. Ethan Hayter (Great Britain)

5. Jasper De Buyst (Lotto-Soudal)

6. Connor Swift (Madison-Genesis)

7. Mads Würtz Schmidt (Katusha-Alpecin)

8. Jasha Sütterlin (Movistar)

9. Dion Smith (Wanty-Groupe Gobert)

10. Xandro Meurisse (Wanty-Groupe Gobert)

Patrick Bevin (BMC) is the new race leader!

General classification after stage 3:

1. Patrick Bevin (BMC) 11:03:11

2. Cameron Meyer (Mitchelton-Scott) +00:00

3. Julian Alaphilippe (Quick Step Floors) +00:02

4. Jasha Sütterlin (Movistar) +00:12

5. Wout Poels (Team Sky)

6. Chris Hamilton (Team Sunweb)

7. Bob Jungels (Quick Step Floors)

8. Primož Roglič (LottoNL-Jumbo)

9. Hugh Carthy (EF-Drapac) +00:19

10. Scott Davies (Dimension Data) +00:22

Bevin picked up two bonus seconds at the first intermediate sprint of the day, then six more at the finish. Meyer once again loses out on the leader's jersey on countback.

Julian Alaphilippe speaks after his win:

And here's what new race leader Patrick Bevin had to say:

There are now just 25 riders within a minute of the race lead, including stage winner Julian Alaphilippe, his Quick Step Floors teammate Bob Jungels, and Primož Roglič of LottoNL-Jumbo.

That trio are looking like the biggest favourites for overall victory, with a summit finish and team time trial still to come.

Tomorrow the peloton head to the Midlands for a stage from Nuneaton to Royal Leamington Spa. It's a bit lumpy, but nothing like the last two days, so a sprint finish seems the most likely outcome.

The green leader's jersey isn't the only one to change hands today, from Tonelli to Bevin. Alaphilippe takes the lead in the points classification and will wear a darker shade of blue tomorrow.

Elsewhere, Scott Davies (Dimension Data) keeps the black KOM jersey, and Matthew Teggart (Team Wiggins) retains the red intermediate sprints jersey.

And that's it from me today. See you in the same place tomorrow at the slightly earlier time of 11am UK time for live coverage of stage 4!